Investments (Summary Of Components Of Net Investment Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross investment income before adjustments	$ 556,072	$ 574,425	$ 618,956
Funds held interest income (expense)	9,471re_FundsHeldInterestIncomeExpense	10,613re_FundsHeldInterestIncomeExpense	10,580re_FundsHeldInterestIncomeExpense
Future policy benefit reserve income (expense)	(1,686)	(2,770)	(2,902)
Gross investment income	563,857	582,268	626,634
Investment expenses	(33,287)	(33,759)	(26,432)
Net investment income	530,570us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeNet	548,509us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeNet	600,202us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeNet
Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross investment income before adjustments	462,757	473,493	489,801
Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross investment income before adjustments	47,193	45,387	59,156
Short-Term Investments And Cash [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross investment income before adjustments	1,635	1,295	1,252
Limited Partnerships [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross investment income before adjustments	40,868	46,921	64,896
Other [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Gross investment income before adjustments	$ 3,619	$ 7,329	$ 3,851

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Future policy benefit reserve income (expense)

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Gross Investment Income Before Adjustment

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Amount before accretion (amortization) of purchase discount (premium) of interest income and dividend income on nonoperating securities.

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Amount of expenses related to the generation of investment income.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 225

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